Outboard motor



0. C. LINTHWAITE OUTBOARD MOTOR Filed May 22, 1955 s Sheets- Sheet 1I'll INVENTOR. v OWEN Q. I-IHTHWAITK" fga/Mm/ ATTORNEY Aug. 23, 1933.

0. c. LINTHWAITE OUTBOARD MOT OR Filed May 22, 1935 3 Sheets-Sheet 2Aug. 23, 1938. I o. c. LIINTHWAITAE I OUTBOARD MOTOR Filed May 22. 19553 Sheets-Sheet 3 ill mmvrozi. OWEN 'C. LmTHwmTK A TTORNEY.

Patented Aug. 23, 1938 PAATENT' OFFICE OUTBOARD MOTOR Owen C.Jtinthwaite, South Bend, Ind., assignor to Bendix Products Corporation,South Bend, Did, a corporation of Indiana Application May 22, 1935,Serial No. 22,709

9 Claims; (01. -18) This invention relates to outboard motors, and

is more particularly directed to means for fixing an outboard motor to aboat, and novel means for steering the boat. a

In the operation of motors of this type it is desirable that convenientadjustable means be provided whereby the motor may be attached tovarious types of boats having supporting transoms set at differentangles. It is therefore desirable to provide means whereby the anglebetween the engine drive shait and the transom of the boat can be variedwith the greatest ease.

It has been found that considerable torque vibration, inherent in-themotor, is transmitted to the steering mechanism where the axis aboutwhich the motor is turned for steering is coincident with the enginedrive shaft. This vibration r'endersit difficult to steer any desiredcourse, andrenders it practically impossible to adjust the steeringmechanism whereby minimum force will be required for normal steeringoperations of the boat, without having the adjustment so loose that itis impossible to steer a predetermined course without .the operatorconstantly manipulating the steering mechanism.

-It is therefore an object of this invention to provide means for fixingan outboard motor to a boat in such a manner that variations in theangle between the engine drive shaft and the transom of the boat can bequickly and easily made.

Another object of the invention is to provide a steering mechanismwherein the axis of rotation'of the motor is non-concentric with theaxis of the engine drive shaft, to decrease the effect of normal enginevibration upon the steering mec hanism.

Another object of the invention is to provide an adjustable co-pilotmechanism whereby any predetermined course may be steered without theattention of the operator.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a bracket ofsimple design and construction whereby all of the pieces may be formedby die-casting, for fixing an outboard motor to a boat. 4

Another object of the invention is to provide a strong, but extremelysimple and light, bracket of the class hereinafter described.

A further object of the invention is to provide means for preventing thevibrations of the engine from being transmitted to the boat.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a bracket whereinthe motor may be securely clamped to the transom of the boat even thoughthe transom may be slightly out of line or warped.

Further objects and advantages of this invention will be apparent fromthe following detailed description, taken in connection with theaccompanying drawings, submitted for purposes of illustration only, andnot intended to define the scope of the invention, reference being hadfor that purpose to the subjoined claims.

In the drawings, wherein similar reference characters refer to similarparts throughout the several views:

Figure l is a view in'side elevation of an outboard motor incorporatingthe present invention; Figure 2 is an enlarged sectional view of aportion of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a top plan view of Figure 2 taken on the line 3-3 ofFigure};

Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 2, showin a modified form of theinvention;

Figure 5 is a top plan view of Figure 4;

Figure 6 is a detail view of a portion of Figure; 5, showing a modifiedform of the invention;

Figure 7 is a detail view showing a modified form of the bracketadjusting means;

Figure 8 is a view similar to Figure 2 showing a still further modifiedform of the invention;

and

I Figure 9 is a top plan view of Figure 8.

Referring more particularly to Figure 1, there is shown an outboardmotor indicated as a whole by the reference numeral l0, fixed to thetransom l2 of a boat. The outboard motor Ill includes a hooded internalcombustion engine l4 provided with a fuel tank It, and adapted to drivea propeller IB by means of an engine drive shaft 20 extending through anupper housing section 22 and a lower housing section 24. The

propeller is protected from injury, due to striking against an object,by a protecting fin 26. The lower housing section 24 carries ananticavitation plate 28, adapted to overlie the propeller l8 to preventcavitation of the propeller. A stream-lined fin 30, carried by thehousing 24, and overlying the anti-cavitation plate 28, is

adapted to facilitate steering operations of the boat. a

Steering operations of the boat are efiected by turning the outboardmotor In about an axis de- 32 is provided with a pressure arm 34 formedintegral therewith.

As indicated above, the motor III is fixed to the pressure plate 32 andis rotatable about the longitudinal axis of this plate. The pressure arm34 is rotatably mounted upon a stud 36 projecting therethrough, so thatas the pressure arm 34 is moved in a vertical plane the angle betweenthe drive shaft 20 of the motor, and the transom I2 of the boat isvaried. The stud 36 passes through a pair of brackets 38 havingtransom-engaging projections 40, and provided with arms 42 adapted toreceive manually operable adjusting screws 44 to securely clamp thebrackets 38 to the transom I2 of the boat. The arms 42 are provided withweb sections 45 provided with a plurality of apertures 46 designed toreceive a bolt 48, which in turn is engaged by a hook 50 carried by thepressure arm 34. To vary the angle at which the motor I operates, it isonly necessary to move the bolt 48 to a different aperture 46.

If the propeller protecting fin 26 should strike an object, the motor I0will be rotated about the axis of the stud 36 to move the propeller IEIto such a position that damage thereto will be avoided. This is possiblein view of the fact that the book 50 carried by the pressure arm 34merely disengages the bolt 48 and rotates in a clockwise direction aboutthe stud 36 until its movement is restricted by contact with thetransofn I2 of the boat.

In the embodiment shown in Figure 4 the bolt 48 and hook 50 of Figure 2have been replaced r by a snap joint, wherein the pressure arm I34 isprovided with a cross member I35 having pins I31 adapted to fit into theapertures I46 to determine the position of the pressure arm I34 withreference to the webs I45 carried by the arms I42. The cross member I35is hollow and is provided with slots I31 to receive levers I39 pivotedto the pressure arm I34 by pins IN. The levers I33 operate the pins I3?and are yieldingly urged in a direction to hold the pins I31 into theapertures M6" by means of springs I43 interposed between the pressurearm I312 and the levers I39. In this embodiment, it is necessary only tocompress the levers I 39 and move the pins I31 to a different apertureI46 to vary the angle between the drive shaft 23 of the motor It, andthe transom I2 of the boat.

In the embodiment shown in Figure 6, the pins I31 are actuated by meansof a single coiled spring I43 fixed to the pressure arm I34 by means ofapin I41. In this embodiment a stop ring I49 is provided intermediatethe pins I31 to prevent the force exerted upon the spring I43 from beingapplied to remove only one pin, in

the event that the other pin should become stuck, or for any otherreason fail to slide out of the aperture I46.

In the embodiment shown in Figure 7, the pins I31 are yieldingly urgedto the extreme position by means of a spring II. The pins I31 areactuated by means of knobs I53 fixed in the body of the pins, andslldable in the slots I31 to actu ate the pins.

In the embodiments shown herein, the angle between the motor and theboat can be adjusted with the greatest of ease, and it is thereforebelieved that more eflicient operation of the motor will result becauseof the accessibility and the ease with which this adjustment can bemade.

In the embodiment shown in Figure 8, the pressure plate 255 is securedto the motor I0 in the same manner as the pressure plate 32 of the otherembodiments. A pressure arm 251 is pivotally mounted on a stud 259passing through the pressure plate 255. The pressure arm 251 is providedwith a foot 26I designed to engage a pad 263 of the pressure plate 255.

A pair of clamping brackets 265, carried by the stud 259, are providedwith boat-engaging projections 261 adapted to cooperate with manuallyad- J'ustable studs 269 carried in arms 21I of the bracket 265 tosecurely fix the bracket to the transom 2I2 of the boat. A pressure bar213 extends between the arms 21I of the bracket 265 to securely tie thebracket members together. An adjustable stud 215 projects through thepressure bar 213 and is screwed into the pressure arm 251 as clearlyshown in Figure 8.

In this embodiment the thrust of the motor is transmitted through thepad 263 to the foot 26I of the pressure arm 251-. The thrust is thentransmitted through the adjustable stud 215 to the pressure plate 213,and from the pressure plate 213 to the arms 21I of the brackets 265fixed to the transom 2 I2 of the boat. The motor is rotatable about thestud 259, and the angle between the engine drive shaft and the transom2I2 of the boat may be adjusted by manipulating the adjustable stud 215,so that the motor may be set atany desired angle with respect to thetransom of the boat.

It has been found that when the motor is turned about the 'axis of theengine drive shaft to effect the steering of the boat, that considerablevibration and torque interference is transmitted through the steeringmechanism. The motor will therefore exert a turning moment which must beconstantly resisted by the operator, in order to follow anypredetermined course. This turning moment varies between rather widelimits and is dependent in part upon the speed of the engine.

It has been found that torque interference of the motor with thesteering mechanism is completely eliminated when the steering axis isnonconcentric with the axis of the engine drive shaft.

In the present invention, the steering of the boat is effected byrotating the motor I6 about the longitudinal axis of the pressure plate32, which of course is non-concentric with the axis of the engine driveshaft 28.

The pressure plate 32 is rotatably mounted in the upper housing section22, and is insulated therefrom, at the lower end, by the resilientwashers 34 to prevent vibration of the motor II] from being transmittedto the boat. The upper end of the plate 32 is journalled in a clampingbracket SI resiliently connected to the upper housing section 22 by anysuitable means, such as the bolts 93 passing through the resilientwashers 95. A manually operable tiller 60, fixed to the bracket SI,operates to rotate the motor In about the axis of the pressure plate 32.

The bracket 9| is provided with a so-called co-pilot or manuallyoperable adjusting screw 91 to vary the amount of force required to beexerted on the tiller 60 to rotate the motor I0 2,127,744 my co-pendingapplication Serial No. 2,085,, filed January 16, 1935.

While the invention has been described with particular reference tocertain preferred embodiments, it is not intended to limit the scopeofthe invention to the embodiments described,

nor otherwise than by the terms of the following claims.

.I claim: v

1. In an outboard motor for a boat, a drive shaft, means including abracket for turning the motor about an axis for steering, a resilientlymounted tiller forturning the motor about said axis for steering, andmanually operable clamping means including spaced oppositely disposedconica1 resilient means interposed between the bracket and the motor forvarying the-resistance to steering movements. a

2. An outboard motor having a drive shait, a housing surrounding thedrive shaft, a pressure plate including a bracket pivotally mounted withrespect to the housing, a pressure arm mounted on the bracket andengaging the pressure plate, clamping means pivotally mounted on saidbracket to fix the motor to a boat, and

- gaging the pressure plate at one end, clamping means carried by saidbracket to fix the motor to a boat, and adjustable means associated withI the clamping means and adapted to be engaged by one end of thepressure arm to vary the angle between the drive shaft and the boat inone direction only and to permit pivotal. movement aboutsaid bracket.

4. In an outboard motor assembly for a boat having atransom, an internalcombustion engine, a propeller, a housing extending between the engineand the, propeller, a pressure plate pivotally mountednon-concentrically with re- 'spect to the housing, a bracket adapted toengage the transom, a web having a plurality of spaced apertures carriedby the bracket, a pin extending through the apertures, and a pressurearm carried by the pressure plate, a portion of l the arm beingshaped inthe form of a hook to engage said pin to limit the angle between thehousing and the transom in one direction.

5. In an outboard motor assembly for a boat having a transom, aninternalmombustion engine, a propeller, a housing extending between theengine and the propeller, a pressure plate so to the housing, a brackethaving spaced pivotally and eccentrically mounted'with respect adaptedto engage the transom, aweb having, a plurality of spaced aperturescarried by said arms,-a pin extending through the apertures, and apressure arm carried by the pressure plate, a

portion of the arm being designed to engage the' pressure plate at apoint remote irom'the pivotal mounting and another portion beingdesigned to engage the pin to vary the anglev between the housing andthe transom in one direction asthe pin is moved to diiferent ofthespaced apertures.

6. In an outboard motor assembly for a boat having a. transom, aninternal combustion engine, a propeller, a housing extending between theengine and the propeller, a drive shaft positioned in the housi apressure plate rotatably mounted on the housing eccentrically withreference to the drive shaft, a bracket having spaced arms adapted toengage the transom, a web having a plurality of spaced apertures carriedby said arms, a pin extending through the apertures, a pressure armcarried by thepressure plate, means to rotatably mount the pressure armwith respect to the bracket, one end of said arm being designed toengagethe pressure plate and the other end being designed to engage the pin tovary the angle between the housing and the transom in one direction asthe pin is moved to different of the spaced apertures, and meansincluding a manually operable tiller to rotate the mlggr assembly aboutthe axis of the pressure P 7. A bracket having a pair of spaced boatenaging members, webs having a plurality of spaced apertures carried bysaid members, a

pressure plate adapted to be pivotally and remembers, one endof said armbeing adapted to engage the pressure plate, andmearis including a pinextending through the spaced apertures and adapted to be engaged by oneend 01 the arm to vary the angle. between the pressure plate and saidmembers in one direction.

8. In an outboard motor for a boat'having a. transom, an internalcombustion engine, a propeller, a housing extending between the engineand the propellena drive shaft in the housing, and means to attach theoutboard motor to the transdm of the boat, said means including a pairof spaced boat engaging members, webs having a plurality of spacedapertures carried by said members, a member pivotally and resilientlymounted,to the housing eccentrically with respect to the drive shaft, aprojection on said plate rotatably mounted between said members, andmeans carried by said projection and cooperating with said apertures tolimit the angle between the drive shaft and the transom in onedirectiononly.

9. In an outboard motor for a boat having a transom, an internalcombustion engine, a propeller, a housing extending between the engineand the propeller, a drive shaft in'th'e housing,

and means to fix the outboard motor to the transom o! the boat, saidmeans including a ,pair of spaced boat-engaging members, webs having aplurality of spaced apertures carried by said members, a plate rotatablymounted with respect'to the housing, a projection on said platerotatably mounted between said members, and means including a boltextending between the webs to restrict the movement of the projection inone direction only to determine the angle be-v tween the drive shaft andthe transom oi the boat.

owns 0.

